Joohee Lee Inaugurated as 10th President of Dongshin University: "AI-Focused Educational Innovation to Nurture Future Industry Talent"

Presenting a New Vision to Lead the Era of AI and Regional Transformation

"Major Regional Changes, Such as the Launch of Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City, Bring New Opportunities for the University"

Dongshin University announced on the 16th that President Joohee Lee has been officially inaugurated as the 10th president, marking the start of a new four-year term.

The inauguration ceremony for President Joohee Lee, the 10th president of Dongshin University, and the university’s Future Vision Sharing Meeting were held over two days at the Grand Ballroom of Ramada Sea Uri Resort in Jaeundo, Sinan-gun, Jeonnam, with approximately 320 people in attendance, including faculty members and student representatives.

Juhee Lee, 10th President of Dongshin University. Provided by Dongshin University

In her inaugural address, themed "Beyond Boundaries, Establishing Our CORE," President Lee presented a new vision to lead the era of the great AI transition and the great regional transition. She pledged to make Dongshin University: ▲a university where students are happy, ▲a university that creates the future together with the local community, and ▲a university that responds responsibly to changes in the era by establishing its own unique CORE.

President Lee reflected, "Four years ago, we stood on the threshold of survival, facing a decreasing school-age population and the crisis of local universities. This period was not just a time of withstanding crises, but a time when every member came together to forge new paths and pioneer the future."

She continued, "Boundaries did not stop us; instead, they made us more aware and prompted more intense preparation, allowing us to build Dongshin University’s unique competitiveness in the process. The next four years will be a time for us to choose what we can do better and what we will deepen further, enabling a leap forward."

President Lee identified students, people, and the local community as the most important values that Dongshin University must steadfastly uphold.

She stated, "Looking back on the past four years, the most precious thing was not our achievements but our people. Because all our members supported the university behind the scenes, we did not stop and were able to stay on course."

The inauguration ceremony of the 10th President Lee Joohee was held on the 15th and 16th at the Grand Ballroom of the Ramada Sea You Resort in Jaeun-do, Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, attended by about 320 faculty members and student representatives. Provided by Dongsin University

She added, "Students grow the most—through learning, through challenges, and when someone believes in them. We will solidify Dongshin University’s unique CORE to fulfill the promise of being a university that best helps students grow, ‘a university that helps me flourish.’"

President Lee proposed AI-focused educational innovation and the advancement of specialization as the directions for future innovation at the university.

She stated, "We will select fields that open up greater opportunities for students and help shape the future of our region. We will further accelerate AI-based educational innovation and advance our existing areas of specialization—such as Energy AI, semiconductors, smart healthcare, and Glocal K-Culture—to nurture talent that will lead future industries."

President Lee also presented a new vision for a leap forward for Dongshin University, mentioning the launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City, the establishment of the Samsung Electronics and SK hynix semiconductor cluster, and the construction of a large-scale AI data center—signaling major transformations in the region.

She assessed, "A tremendous transformation that will reshape South Korea’s industrial landscape is now beginning in Gwangju and Jeonnam. The launch of the Jeonnam-Gwangju Metropolitan City and the concentration of AI, semiconductor, and future energy industries present regional universities with an unprecedented opportunity in a century."

During the Future Vision Sharing Meeting held prior to the inauguration, response measures for the ‘5-Pole 3-Special National Balanced Growth Strategy’, best practices for anchor projects, and second-year implementation plans were presented, along with a special lecture by author Gong Jiyoung themed ‘Whatever Life You Live, I Will Support You.’

A video recapping the university’s achievements over the past four years and congratulatory messages from community members followed, further strengthening the commitment to a new leap forward.

Meanwhile, during her previous four-year term, President Joohee Lee carried out three major goals: ▲a university where students are happy, ▲a shared growth university that coexists with the local community, and ▲a university that stays with its members to the end, leading to fundamental change in the university's structure.

To help students discover the joy of university life and learning, and to ensure a good job and a happy life after graduation, the university has enthusiastically supported various programs, held meetings with outstanding students, and provided opportunities for overseas language study and the enhancement of global competencies.

The university’s innovation in AI education has also attracted nationwide attention. AI-driven curricula have been established across all departments, with the expansion of small-scale interdisciplinary majors (MD). By implementing AI-based major education, using edtech-powered classes, setting up PBL classrooms and chroma key studios, and establishing a Smart Energy Campus, the university has created a future-oriented educational environment. In recognition of these achievements, it has been awarded the grand prize at the 2nd Korea AI Innovation Awards in 2026 and selected for the Ministry of Education’s AI Basic Curriculum Development Project.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.